Preparing for college doesn’t start with applying to different schools in your senior year. Beginning in your sophomore year of high school you have the option to start taking a series of tests that are typically required on applying for colleges. These tests include the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT, and the ACT.

The PSAT is not a mandatory test. It is a preparatory test for the SAT, and is usually taken in a student’s sophomore year. It is however mandatory that you take either the SAT or the ACT. Most of the colleges you apply to, will require that you take both tests and submit your test scores with your applications. You can take either test as many times as it is offered by your high school before you graduate.

PSAT/NMSQT: Most students take this test in their sophomore year of high school. This test also provides an opportunity to apply for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship programs.

     Test Time: 2:10

Test Content:
-Critical Reading Section (two 25 minute sections)
    Sentence Completion (13 questions): Measures your knowledge of the meaning of words        and your ability to fit sentences together
    Passage Based Reading (35 questions): Tests how well you understand the
    passage that you read, by asking questions based on that passage.

- Math Section (two 25 minute sections)
    Required Math Operations: Numbers and operation, algebra and functions, geometry
    and measurement, statistics, probability, and data analysis.
        *28 Multiple choice questions
        *10 Grid-ins (student produced responses)

- Writing Section (30 Minutes)
    Identifying Sentence Errors (14 questions): grammar and word choice
    Improving Sentences (20 questions): how best to rewrite a sentence
    Improving Paragraphs (5 questions): improve the logic, coherence, or
    organization in a flawed passage

SAT: If you are completely unsure of an answer to a question, when taking the SAT, it is best to leave the question blank. The SAT will dock ¼ of a point for every question you answer incorrectly. However, if you choose to leave the question blank you will not lose or gain any points. Recently the SAT has undergone some remodeling. Much to the delight of students all across the nation, it will no longer contain analogies as part of the test material (for those of you who have not been paying attention in English class an analogy is a statement that makes a comparison between two things. I.e., an apple is to fruit as a dove is to a ­­­bird.) However, the analogies have been replaced with a short essay.

            Test Time: 4:30
Test Contents:
-Writing (60 Minutes)
    The Short Essay (25 minutes): Tests your ability to develop and support a main
    idea. You will be scored on your ability to use the appropriate words, organize
    and express your ideas, and maintain proper sentence structure.
    Multiple Choice (35 minutes): Tests your ability to improve sentence and
    paragraph structure, and identify errors in grammar and sentence construction.

-Reading (70 Minutes):
    Passage Reading (two 25 minute sections): Tests your ability to regurgitate
    information from a passage you have just read to answer questions specific to that
    passage.
    Sentence Completion (20 Minutes): Tests your ability to correctly complete a
    sentence with the appropriate words.

-Math (70 minutes total, two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section):
    Required Math Operations: Number and operations, algebra and functions, geometry, and    
    stats, probability, and data analysis. Some questions will be grid-in and some will be multiple
    choice.

ACT: The ACT is slightly different from the SAT. Should you find yourself facing a question that you do not know the answer to on the ACT, it is best to guess. The ACT does not penalize you for incorrect answers, as the SAT does. It also scores you on a different numbering scale. The highest score you can get on the ACT is a 36.

            Time: 4:15

Test Content:
-English (45 minutes, 75 questions):
    Grammar (40 questions): punctuation and sentence structure 40 questions
    Rhetorical skills (35 questions): strategy, organization and style:                                      

*spelling, vocabulary, and rote recall rules of grammar are not tested*

-Math (60 Minutes, 60 questions):
    Pre-algebra (24 questions)
    Algebra and Coordinate Geometry (18 questions)
    Plane Geometry and Trigonometry (18 questions)

*plane geometry tests properties and relations of plane figures*

-Reading (35 minutes, 40 questions)
    Social Studies (10 questions): History, political science, economics, anthropology,
    psychology, and sociology
    Natural Sciences (10 questions): Biology, chemistry, physics, and physical science
    Prose Fiction (10 questions): Short stories
    Humanities (10 questions): Art, music, philosophy, theater, architecture, and dance.

-Science of Reasoning (35 minutes, 40 questions)
    Data Representation: graph reading, interpreting scatter plots and tables
    Research Summaries: Designing experiments and interpreting results.
    Conflicting View Points: Understanding analysis and comparison of alternate view points.